Roden to lead from front at Co-op Live Arena

Article posted by Coliseum, April 26^th, 2023

Image: Co-op Live

Manchester’s (UK) new £365m Co-op Live Arena has named its new General Manager as it prepares to open later this year.

‘BusinessLive’ stated that the 23,500-capacity venue – whose backers include pop star Harry Styles (English singer-songwriter) – is due to open in December at Manchester’s Etihad Campus and will host up to 120 shows a year.

The 23,500-capacity Co-op Live is an indoor arena currently under construction in Manchester, England (UK). Due to open in 2023, it is planned to have the largest maximum capacity of any indoor arena in the United Kingdom, greater than the existing 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, which is less than two miles away.

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Sara Tomkins, Marketing and CSR Director, Co-op Live Arena, UK, is a Member of Coliseum – Global Sports Venue Alliance.

The Etihad Campus is an area of SportCity, Manchester, which is mostly owned and operated by the Premier League team Manchester City F.C. The campus includes the 53,400-capacity Etihad Stadium, the City Football Academy training facility and the club world headquarters, and undeveloped land adjacent to both of these facilities.

‘BusinessLive’ further stated that now Gary Roden has joined as the Executive Director and General Manager, following eight years at Ticketmaster where he became the Senior Vice-President of Client Development and Commercial.

He will lead the strategic and operational delivery of Co-op Live, a joint venture between the Oak View Group (OVG) and the City Football Group (CFG).

The OVG Oak View Group, LLC is an American Global Advisory, Development and Investment Company for the Sports and Live Entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles (US), it was formed on November 16^th, 2015 by Tim Leiweke and his business partner, Irving Azoff. Leiweke is the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Manchester (UK)-based the City Football Group Limited is a holding company that administers association football clubs. The group is owned by three organizations, of which 81 percent is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, 18 percent by the American firm Silver Lake and one percent by the Chinese firms China Media Capital and CITIC Capital.

Said Roden, “I am delighted to be joining Co-op Live, leading the team in Manchester to launch and operate a gamechanging arena experience for both fans and artistes. I can’t wait to get started, working with the Oak View Group, the City Football Group, key stakeholders and partners to launch what is not only set to be a groundbreaking arena for the United Kingdom, but one that will see Manchester firmly leading the way globally.”

Noted Jessica Koravos, Co-Chair of Oak View Group International, “Gary Roden’s experience speaks for itself, and we’re thrilled to have him join an already phenomenal team of exceptional industry leaders, and to continue to drive the Oak View Group and the City Football Group’s joint vision to deliver world-leading, planet-friendly entertainment.”

Other backers of the Co-op Arena are Harry Styles’ record label Erskine Records and SJM Holdings, which is the holding company of both SJM Concerts and the rugby league club Warrington Wolves (UK).

The venue’s team hope it will be “the most sustainable and socially responsible arena in the UK”. It will also donate at least £1m annually to the Co-op Foundation to support initiatives focused on young people, food security, education, and sustainability.

Manchester (UK)-based Co-op Foundation is Co-op’s charity and is cooperating for a fairer world. They believe cooperation is at the heart of strong communities and this makes them a different kind of funder. They work closely with communities, listen and learn. They unlock communities’ power by focusing on those who have most at stake.

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